.png)
Movie Magic Production Scheduling Software - Entertainment Partners
Movie Magic Scheduling for Mac: The Ultimate Guide for Film and TV Production
If you are a film or TV producer, director, or assistant director, you know how important it is to have a reliable and efficient production scheduling software. You need a tool that can help you plan, organize, and manage every aspect of your shoot, from script breakdowns to call sheets, from crew reports to budget integration. You need a tool that can handle complex scenarios, multiple revisions, and collaborative workflows. You need a tool that can work seamlessly on your Mac device.
Movie Magic Scheduling For Mac
That tool is Movie Magic Scheduling for Mac.
Movie Magic Scheduling is the industry-standard digital production scheduling solution, used by thousands of professionals worldwide. It is designed to incorporate the time-tested concepts of the stripboard while offering a variety of scenarios to consider, such as different shoot lengths, re-ordered scenes, comparisons in location, and more. It allows you to create detailed production schedules with robust, easy-to-use features. It enables you to design custom crew reports that allow your team to make the best decisions based on real-time data. And it integrates with Movie Magic Budgeting, the leading film budgeting software, to make sure your vision is within your budget.
In this ultimate guide, we will show you how Movie Magic Scheduling works, how to use it on your Mac device, how to create a production schedule with it, how to integrate it with Movie Magic Budgeting, and how to use some tips and tricks to make the most of it. By the end of this guide, you will be ready to start using Movie Magic Scheduling for Mac for your next film or TV project.
How Movie Magic Scheduling Works
Movie Magic Scheduling is based on three main components: the stripboard, the breakdown, and the reports. Let's take a look at each one in more detail.
The Stripboard: The core of Movie Magic Scheduling
The stripboard is the heart of Movie Magic Scheduling. It is where you organize your scenes into a shooting order, using color-coded strips that represent each scene. Each strip contains essential information about the scene, such as scene number, page count, location, day/night, cast members, script day, etc. You can also add notes, flags, warnings, banners, calendars, and other elements to your stripboard to help you plan your shoot. You can drag and drop the strips to rearrange them, or use the scheduling tools to automatically sort them by various criteria. You can also create multiple versions of your stripboard to compare different scenarios and options.
The Breakdown: How to input script elements and create breakdown sheets
The breakdown is where you enter all the script elements that are required for each scene, such as cast, props, wardrobe, makeup, special effects, vehicles, animals, etc. You can import your script from a PDF or Final Draft file, or enter it manually. Movie Magic Scheduling will automatically recognize the scene headings and page counts, and create a breakdown sheet for each scene. A breakdown sheet is a document that lists all the script elements for a scene, along with their descriptions and notes. You can edit the breakdown sheets to add, delete, or modify the script elements, as well as assign categories, colors, and statuses to them. You can also link the script elements to your budget items in Movie Magic Budgeting, if you have it installed.
The Reports: How to design custom crew reports and distribute them digitally
The reports are where you generate and customize various crew reports that are essential for your production, such as call sheets, shooting schedules, day out of days, cast lists, location lists, prop lists, etc. You can choose from a variety of templates and formats, or create your own from scratch. You can also apply filters and sorts to select the information you want to include in your reports. You can preview, print, or export your reports as PDF or Excel files. You can also distribute your reports digitally via email or cloud services, such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
How to Use Movie Magic Scheduling for Mac
Now that you know how Movie Magic Scheduling works, let's see how to use it on your Mac device. Here are the steps you need to follow:
System Requirements: What you need to run Movie Magic Scheduling on your Mac
Before you install Movie Magic Scheduling on your Mac, make sure you meet the following system requirements:
Operating System: macOS 10.13 High Sierra or later
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo or higher
Memory: 4 GB RAM or higher
Hard Disk Space: 200 MB or higher
Display: 1280 x 800 resolution or higher
Internet Connection: Required for activation and online features
Installation: How to download and install Movie Magic Scheduling on your Mac
To install Movie Magic Scheduling on your Mac, follow these steps:
Go to the official website of Movie Magic Scheduling and click on the "Buy Now" button.
Select the version you want to purchase (Standard or Academic) and add it to your cart.
Proceed to checkout and enter your billing and payment information.
After completing your purchase, you will receive an email with your product serial number and a download link.
Click on the download link and save the installer file (MovieMagicScheduling.dmg) to your Mac.
Double-click on the installer file and follow the instructions on the screen.
Drag and drop the Movie Magic Scheduling icon into your Applications folder.
You have successfully installed Movie Magic Scheduling on your Mac.
Activation: How to activate your product and access online features
To activate Movie Magic Scheduling on your Mac and access online features, follow these steps:
Launch Movie Magic Scheduling from your Applications folder.
You will be prompted to enter your product serial number. Enter it and click "Activate".
You will be asked to create an account or sign in with an existing one. Enter your email and password and click "Sign In".
You will be asked to register your product. Enter your name and other details and click "Register".
You have successfully activated Movie Magic Scheduling on your Mac.
To access online features, such as cloud storage and sync, go to the File menu and select "Online Services".
You will be able to upload, download, share, and sync your schedules with other devices and users.
How to Create a Production Schedule with Movie Magic Scheduling for Mac
Now that you have installed and activated Movie Magic Scheduling on your Mac, let's see how to create a production schedule with it. Here are the steps you need to follow: Step 1: Import or enter your script
The first step to create a production schedule with Movie Magic Scheduling is to import or enter your script. You can do this in two ways:
If you have your script in a PDF or Final Draft file, you can import it into Movie Magic Scheduling by going to the File menu and selecting "Import Script". You will be able to browse and select your script file, and choose the import options, such as scene heading format, page count method, and character name recognition. Movie Magic Scheduling will then import your script and create a breakdown sheet for each scene.
If you don't have your script in a file, or you want to enter it manually, you can do so by going to the File menu and selecting "New". You will be able to create a new schedule file, and enter your script in the Script Editor window. You can use the toolbar buttons and keyboard shortcuts to format your script, such as scene headings, action, dialogue, transitions, etc. Movie Magic Scheduling will then create a breakdown sheet for each scene as you enter it.
After you have imported or entered your script, you will see your scenes listed in the Breakdown Summary window, along with their page counts and colors. You can double-click on any scene to open its breakdown sheet and edit its script elements.
Step 2: Break down your script into elements
The second step to create a production schedule with Movie Magic Scheduling is to break down your script into elements. Elements are the items that are required for each scene, such as cast, props, wardrobe, makeup, special effects, vehicles, animals, etc. You can add elements to your breakdown sheets by using the Element List window, which contains predefined categories and subcategories of elements. You can also create your own custom categories and subcategories of elements by using the Element Manager window.
To add an element to a breakdown sheet, follow these steps:
Select the scene you want to break down from the Breakdown Summary window.
Open the Element List window by clicking on the "Element List" button on the toolbar.
Select the category and subcategory of the element you want to add from the drop-down menus.
Type the name or description of the element in the text box below the menus.
Click on the "Add" button or press the Enter key to add the element to the breakdown sheet.
Repeat steps 3-5 for each element you want to add to the breakdown sheet.
You can also add elements to a breakdown sheet by using the Script Editor window, which shows your script in a formatted view. To do this, follow these steps:
Select the scene you want to break down from the Breakdown Summary window.
Open the Script Editor window by clicking on the "Script Editor" button on the toolbar.
Select the word or phrase in your script that represents an element you want to add.
Right-click on it and select "Add Element".
Select the category and subcategory of the element from the pop-up menu.
The element will be added to the breakdown sheet with the selected word or phrase as its name or description.
Repeat steps 3-6 for each element you want to add to the breakdown sheet.
After you have added elements to your breakdown sheets, you can edit them by using the Breakdown Sheet window, which shows all the elements for a scene in a table view. You can edit their names, descriptions, notes, categories, colors, statuses, etc. You can also link them to your budget items in Movie Magic Budgeting by using the Link Element window.
Step 3: Organize your stripboard and apply scheduling tools
The third step to create a production schedule with Movie Magic Scheduling is to organize your stripboard and apply scheduling tools. The stripboard is where you arrange your scenes into a shooting order, using color-coded strips that represent each scene. Each strip contains essential information about the scene, such as scene number, page count, location, day/night, cast members, script day, etc. You can also add notes, flags, warnings, banners, calendars, and other elements to your stripboard to help you plan your shoot. You can drag and drop the strips to rearrange them, or use the scheduling tools to automatically sort them by various criteria. You can also create multiple versions of your stripboard to compare different scenarios and options.
To organize your stripboard, follow these steps:
Open the Stripboard window by clicking on the "Stripboard" button on the toolbar.
You will see your scenes listed in the order they appear in your script, with each scene represented by a strip.
To rearrange the strips, select one or more strips and drag and drop them to a new position. You can also cut, copy, and paste strips using the Edit menu or the keyboard shortcuts.
To add elements to your stripboard, such as notes, flags, warnings, banners, calendars, etc., right-click on a strip or an empty space and select the element you want to add from the pop-up menu. You can also use the Insert menu or the toolbar buttons to add elements.
To edit the information on a strip or an element, double-click on it and make the changes in the pop-up window. You can also use the Edit menu or the toolbar buttons to edit information.
To delete a strip or an element, select it and press the Delete key or use the Edit menu or the toolbar buttons to delete it.
Repeat steps 3-6 for each strip or element you want to organize on your stripboard.
To apply scheduling tools to your stripboard, follow these steps:
Open the Scheduling Tools window by clicking on the "Scheduling Tools" button on the toolbar.
You will see a list of scheduling tools that you can use to sort, group, filter, or modify your strips according to various criteria, such as location, day/night, cast members, script days, etc.
Select the tool you want to use from the list and click on the "Apply" button. You can also adjust the settings and options for each tool in the pop-up window.
You will see your stripboard updated according to the tool you applied. You can undo or redo any changes using the Edit menu or the keyboard shortcuts.
Repeat steps 3-4 for each tool you want to apply to your stripboard.
To create multiple versions of your stripboard, follow these steps:
Open the Versions window by clicking on the "Versions" button on the toolbar.
You will see a list of versions that you have created for your stripboard. The current version is marked with an asterisk (*).
To create a new version, click on the "New" button and enter a name for your version in the pop-up window. You can also copy an existing version by selecting it and clicking on the "Copy" button.
To switch between versions, select the version you want to view from the list and click on the "Switch" button. You will see your stripboard updated according to the version you selected.
To delete a version, select it from the list and click on the "Delete" button. You will be asked to confirm your action in a pop-up window.
Repeat steps 3-5 for each version you want to create, switch, or delete for your stripboard.
Step 4: Generate and customize reports
The fourth step to create a production schedule with Movie Magic Scheduling is to generate and customize reports. Reports are documents that contain various information about your production schedule, such as call sheets, shooting schedules, day out of days, cast lists, location lists, prop lists, etc. You can generate and customize reports by using the Reports window, which allows you to choose from a variety of templates and formats, or create your own from scratch. You can also apply filters and sorts to select the information you want to include in your reports. You can preview, print, or export your reports as PDF or Excel files. You can also distribute your reports digitally via email or cloud services, such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
To generate and customize reports, follow these steps:
Open the Reports window by clicking on the "Reports" button on the toolbar.
Select the template you want to use from the list and click on the "Generate" button. You will see a preview of your report in the Report Viewer window.
To customize your report, click on the "Customize" button and make the changes in the Report Designer window. You can edit the layout, format, style, content, and options of your report. You can also use the toolbar buttons and menus to add, delete, or modify elements in your report.
To apply filters and sorts to your report, click on the "Filters/Sorts" button and select the criteria you want to use from the pop-up window. You can filter and sort your report by various fields, such as scene number, location, cast member, script day, etc.
After you have generated and customized your report, you can preview it in the Report Viewer window. You can also print it by clicking on the "Print" button or export it as a PDF or Excel file by clicking on the "Export" button.
To distribute your report digitally, click on the "Distribute" button and select the method you want to use from the pop-up menu. You can email your report as an attachment or a link, or upload it to a cloud service such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
Repeat steps 3-7 for each report you want to generate and customize.
Step 5: Share and sync your schedule with other devices and users
The fifth and final step to create a production schedule with Movie Magic Scheduling is to share and sync your schedule with other devices and users. This allows you to collaborate with your team members and keep everyone updated on the latest changes and revisions. You can share and sync your schedule by using the Online Services window, which enables you to upload, download, share, and sync your schedules with other devices and users via cloud storage.
To share and sync your schedule with other devices and users, follow these steps:
Open the Online Services window by going to the File menu and selecting "Online Services".
You will see a list of schedules that you have uploaded or downloaded from the cloud storage. The current schedule is marked with an asterisk (*).
To upload your schedule to the cloud storage, click on the "Upload" button and enter a name for your schedule in the pop-up window. You can also choose whether to make your schedule public or private.
To download a schedule from the cloud storage, select the schedule you want to download from the list and click on the "Download" button. You will be asked to confirm your action in a pop-up window.
To share your schedule with other users, select the schedule you want to share from the list and click on the "Share" button. You will be able to enter the email addresses of the users you want to share with in the pop-up window. You can also choose whether to grant them read-only or read-write access.
To sync your schedule with other devices or users, select the schedule you want to sync from the list and click on the "Sync" button. You will be able to see the changes that have been made by other devices or users in the pop-up window. You can also choose whether to accept or reject those changes.
Repeat steps 3-6 for each schedule you want to share and sync with other devices and users.
How to Integrate Movie Magic Scheduling with Movie Magic Budgeting
One of the great features of Movie Magic Scheduling is that it integrates with Movie Magic Budgeting, the leading film budgeting software. This allows you to link and sync your script elements from your schedule with your budget items from your budget. This way, you can ensure that your vision is within your budget, and that any changes in your schedule are reflected in your budget.
The Benefits of Integration: How linking and syncing can save you time and money
By integrating Movie Magic Scheduling with Movie Magic Budgeting, you can enjoy the following benefits:
You can save time and avoid errors by linking your script elements from your schedule with your budget items from your budget. This way, you don't have to enter the same information twice, and you can ensure that your schedule and budget are consistent and accurate.
You can save money and optimize your resources by syncing your script